FOREIGN  iNIISSIONS. 


SERMON, 


PREACHED  MAY  9,  1819,  AT  THE  ASNIVER^RY  OF  THE 


UNITED  FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY, 

IN  THE  GARDEN-STREET  CHURCH, 

NEW-YORK^ 

BY  EDWARD  D.  GRIFFIN,  D.  D, 

pufalijJijcb  ftp  JtequcjSt. 


NEWYORK: 

PRiyXED  BT  J.  SEYMOCR,  49  JOHN'-STREET . 


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SERMON. 


MARK  xvi.  15. 

60  TE  INTO  ALL  THE  WORLD  AND  PREACH  THE  GOSPEL  TO  EVERT 
CREATURE. 


I HAVE  appeared  before  you  to  present  the  cries  of 
five  hundred  and  fifty  millions  who  are  perishing  in 
pagan  or  Mahometan  darkness,  and  one  hundred  and 
sixty  millions  sunk  in  fatal  ignorance  under  the  Chris- 
tian name.  For  many  ages  the  Church  had  been 
praying  for  the  heathen,  and  saying,  “ Be  ye  warmed 
and  filled,”  without  making  any  attempt  to  send  the 
Gospel  to  them.  Of  late  years  they  have  awoke  to 
more  consistent  and  charitable  views ; and  now,  in- 
stead of  saying.  Let  us  have  mercy  on  the  heathen, 
the  general  cry  is.  How  could  we  suppress  our  com- 
passions so  long  ? If  there  are  any  who  still  refuse  to 
put  their  hands  to  the  work,  on  one  thing  we  must 
insist,  that  they  never  again  pray  for  the  heathen.  It 
is  too  much,  with  all  the  light  now  shed  upon  the 
subject,  to  offer  these  inconsistent  petitions  any 
longer. 

Our  three  denominations  have  done  something  in 
a way  of  domestic  missions,  but  to  our  grief  and 
shame  we  must  acknowledge,  we  have  long  slum- 
bered over  the  interests  of  the  pagan  world.  To 
this  great  concern  we  have  just  awoke : and  if  no 


4 


other  effect  should  follow  but  that  increase  of  bro- 
therly love  which  this  union  has  produced,  we  have 
not  lost  our  pains.  This  is  almost  the  only  ground, 
besides  that  of  Bible  societies,  on  which  different  de- 
nominations can  affectionately  co-operate.  In  do- 
mestic missions  they  cannot  act  together;  for  the 
question  would  constantly  arise,  whose  ecclesiastical 
order  shall  prevail  in  the  churches  to  be  established. 
But  here  w'e  can  meet  on  common  ground.  I hail  the 
era  of  foreign  missions  and  Bible  societies,  as  the 
set  time  to  join  in  closer  concord  the  different  parts 
of  the  body  of  Christ.  On  these  noble  institutions  i 
seem  to  see  inscribed  in  letters  of  light,  brotherly 
LOVE,  and  under  their  base  1 see  dug  deep  the  grave 
of  bigotry.  There  let  the  fiend  sleep,  and  rot,  and 
rise  no  more  to  distract  and  disfigure  the  Church  of 
God. 

Our  text  contains  the  command  of  the  ascending 
Saviour,  directed  through  the  apostles  tO'Christians 
in  every  age,  and  plainly  binding  the  churches  of  the 
19th  century,  to  the  utmost  limit  of  their  power,  to 
send  the  Gospel  through  tlie  world.  It  needs  no 
comment:  as  intelligible  and  positive  as  the  com- 
mand Thou  shalt  not  kill,”  it  carries  on  its  face  the 
obligations  of  those  now  assembled,  to  engage  with 
all  their  heart  in  the  groat  work  of  evangelizing  the 
heathen.  And  it  plainly  lays  out  for  me  the  duty  of 
advocating  the  cause  of  foreign  missions. 

Perhaps  some  are  yet  to  he  persuaded.  After  nil 
the  wonders  which  seven  and  twenty  years  have 
disclosed,  j)erhapshere  and  there  an  individual  may 
be  found  who  is  still  hanging  to  the  old  objections 
against  foreign  missions.  Let  me  find  the  man  w ho 


has  thus  thrown  himselt’between  the  pagan  world  and 
salvation.  You  object  to  missions  among  the  hea- 
then: how  then  are  five  hundred  millions  of  your 
brethren  to  be  christianized  without  the  Gospel?  It 
is  inscribed  on  the  foundations  of  Zion,  that  “ faith 
cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of 
God.”  “ For  the  Scripture  saith, — Whosoever  shall 
call  upou  the  name  of  the  Lord  shall  be  saved.  How 
then  shall  they  call  on  him  in  whom  they  have  not 
believed  ? and  how  shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom 
they  have  not  heard  ? and  how  shall  they  hear  w ith- 
out  a preacher?  and  how  shall  they  preach  except 
they  be  sent  ?”  Dream  not  that  the  heathen  are  to 
be  converted  in  some  unknown  way  w ithout  the  Gos- 
pel. Missionaries  must  go  forth,  bearing  the  word 
and  ordinances  of  God.  In  this  way  alone  the  Gos- 
pel was  extended  in  the  apostolic  age.  It  has  never 
advanced  a single  step  without  these  means;  it  ne- 
ver will.  After  all  the  care  which  God  has  taken  to 
give  to  the  world  a w ritten  revelation  and  a Gospel 
ministry,  and  to  honour  these  as  his  own  appointed 
means,  he  will  not  work  miracles  to  discredit  what 
he  himself  has  instituted.  He  w ill  not  bring  on  the 
millennium  in  a way  to  cast  contempt  upon  his  w ord 
and  ordinances,  and  to"  darken  that  period  with  the 
errour  that  these  institutions  are  of  no  importance. 
Hfe  w ill  slay  the  enmity  of  the  heathen  by  no  other 
weapon  than  “ the  sword  of  the  Spirit  which  is  the 
word  of  God.” 

Do  you  magnify  the  difficulties  of  the  attempt,  and 
say,  “ If  the  Lord  would  make  windows  in  heaven,” 
success  might  be  possible  ? 1 know'  the  difficulties 

are  great,  much  too  great  for  human  strength  to  over- 


6 


come.  The  sottish  ignorance,  the  inveterate  preju- 
dices, the  long  established  habits  of  sin,  the  power 
of  superstition,  the  paramount  influence  of  false 
guides,  and  above  all  the  dominion  of  the  carnal 
heart,  create  obstacles  which  no  intrinsic  power  of 
men  or  means  can  surmount.  The  unaided  ministry 
of  an  angel  could  not  avail.  If  we  have  nothing  to  rely 
on  but  our  own  strength,  we  must  indeed  resign  the 
heathen  to  absolutedespair.  But  is  thecase  altogether 
different  from  what  we  find  at  home  ? What  pious 
minister  assails  the  carnal  heart  of  the  most  amiable 
and  best  instructed  youth  in  his  own  strength  ? Who 
has  power  to  raise  the  baptised  dead  ? But  when 
we  look  to  the  arm  of  God,  success  even  among  the 
heathen  is  possible.  Has  it  not  already  been  attain- 
ed.^ By  what  means  was  the  Church  extended  in 
the  apostolic  age  ? By  what  means  M as  one  field  of 
divine  wonders  laid  down  from  India  to  Spain,  from 
Scythia  to  Ethiopia.^  Was  it  not  by  the  blessmgofGod 
upon  missions  among  the  heathen  ? And  what  have 
we  seen  in  modern  times  ? Have  you  never  read  of  the 
labours  of  the  Moravians  ? Have  you  never  heard 
of  the  success  of  the  Danish  mission  on  the  Coroman- 
del coast  ? or  of  the  Baptist  mission  in  northern  In- 
dia.^ or  of  the  mission  of  the  London  society  among 
the  Hottentots  of  Africa  ? or  of  the  wonders  in  the 
southern  islands,  where  a nation  has  been  born  in  a 
day  ? By  ancient  charter  the  heathen  are  given  to 
Christ  for  an  inheritance,  and  as  eternal  truth  abides 
they  shall  be  his,  and  his  through  the  instrumentali- 
ty of  faithful  missionaries.  The  times  are  hastening 
on.  1 already  seem  to  catch  the  songs  of  new-born 
thousands  in  the  eastern  breeze,  and  hear  them 


7 


pchoeil  from  the  western  hills  and  the  southern  An- 
des. This  earth  shall  present  one  vast  altar»  and  all 
the  space  between  it  and  heaven  shall  be  filled  with 
the  incense  ol  praise. 

But  you  say,  “ Tlie  time  is  not  come,  the  time  that 
the  Lord's  house  should  be  built;”  the  time  has  not 
come  to  send  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen.  The  time 
has  come,  the  very  time  fixed  upon  by  the  determi- 
nate counsel  of  heaven,  and  marked  out  by  the  Spirit 
of  prophecy.  Listen  to  this : “ I saw  another  angel 
tly  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting 
Gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth, 
and  to  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and 
people;  saying  with  a loud  voice,  Fear  God  and 
give  glory  to  him,  for  the  hour  of  his  judgment  is 
come. — And  there  followed  another  angel,  saying, 
Babylon  is  fallen,  is  fallen.”  When  the  angel  with 
the  everlasting  Gospel  proclaimed,  “ The  hour  of  his 
judgment  is  come,”  (the  judgment  which  was  to  pros- 
trate spiritual  Babylon,)  he  had  not  yet  reached  the 
field  of  his  mission.  His  first  sermon  was  not  yet  be- 
gun. Nor  had  the  judgment  commenced ; this  was 
its  first  annunciation.  The  storm  was  suspended  in 
mid-air,  ready  to  burst,  and  the  angel  was  hastening 
with  winged  speed  to  the  congregations  scattered 
through  the  various  nations,  kindreds,  tongues,  and 
people.  The  judgment  was  manifestly  to  burst  just 
at  the  time  that  the  preaching  to  the  ditTerent  nations 
commenced.  And  w^hat  have  we  seen?  Have  we 
not  seen  for  more  than  twenty  summers  the  fields  of 
those  nations  drenched  in  blood  which  had  sfiven 
“ their  power  and  strengtii  unto  the  hcast”?  Have 
we  not  seen  a moral  flood,  with  a still  more  impetu- 


8 


ous  torrent,  sweeping  away  the  fables  of  the  man  of 
sin,  and  breaking  an  enchantment  which  can  never 
be  restored  ? And  notwithstanding  the  present  ar- 
mistice, who  can  doubt  that  the  judgment  then  com- 
menced which  was  to  prostrate  spiritual  Babylon  ? 
And  what  else  have  w e seen  ? Have  we  not  seen  mis- 
sionary, and  Bible,  and  various  other  charitable  so- 
cieties, rise  like  an  exhalation  and  cover  the  whole 
face  of  Christendom  ? Have  w'e  not  seen  missiona- 
ries established  through  Asia,  and  Africa,  and  the 
islands  of  the  sea  ? Have  w e not  seen  the  Scriptures 
in  a course  of  rapid  translation  into  more  than  thirty 
pagan  laiiguages,  including  by  far  the  most  exten- 
sive languages  on  earth  ? Have  we  not  seen  legis- 
lators and  statesmen  rising  in  the  majesty  of  their 
strength  to  burst  the  bars  which  denied  access  to 
heathen  lands?  Have  w^e  not  seen  kings  and  em- 
perors planting  in  their  crown  the  brightest  gem 
that  ever  adorned  it,  by  arraying  themselves  on  the 
side  of  the  Bible,  and  on  the  side  of  diffusing  its  sa- 
cred light?  Have  we  not  seen  the  inspired  word, 
like  an  angel  flying  through  the  midst  of  heaven,  tra- 
velling to  every  quarter  of  the  globe,  and  scattering 
from  its  wings  the  fragrance  of  the  skies?  And  now 
to  complete  the  evidence  that  this  is  the  day  intend- 
ed in  the  prediction,  these  two  series  of  events  be- 
gan the  same  year.  In  7792  the  war  broke  out  in 
Europe;  in  1792  the  first  missionary  society  in  the 
series  w as  established  in  England,  and  in  the  year 
following  originated  the  far-famed  Indian  mission. 
Since  that  time,  with  the  exception  of  the  present 
and  a former  truce,  the  two  series  have  been  swell- 
ing into  greater  and  still  greater  magnitude  every 


9 


}ear,  and  need  only  to  continue,  to  accomplish  all 
the  dreadful  and  all  the  glorious  predictions  respect- 
ing the  latter  day.  Surely  that  uas  the  time  in 
which  the  angel  began  his  flight,  and  said  with  a 
voice  loud  enough  to  be  heard  through  the  earth, 
“ The  hour  of  his  judgment  is  come.”  Surely  this 
is  the  day  in  which  the  Gospel  was  to  be  preached 
“ to  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and 
people.”  The  great  scene  has  commenced,  and 
neither  earth  nor  hell  can  stop  its  progress. 

But  you  say,  the  time  has  not  come  for  us  to  send 
the  Gospel  to  the  heathen,  because  there  are  so  many 
destitute  among  ourselves.  In  meeting  you  on  this 
ground,  I declare  myself  the  friend  of  domestic  mis- 
sions. Let  these  noble  charities  proceed.  Let  them 
be  carried  forward  with  redoubled  and  ten-fold 
vigour.  But  let  us  not  under  this  pretence  stop  our 
” ears  at  the  cry”  of  the  heathen.  Against  this  con- 
clusion I enter  my  solemn  protest,  and  support  it  by 
the  follow  ing  arguments. 

First,  do  you  in  your  heart  believe  that  it  is  the 
Avill  of  God  that  every  neighbourhood  in  Christian 
countries  should  be  supplied  before  a single  messen- 
ger is  sent  to  the  heathen  ? Will  you  thus  condemn 
the  zeal  of  an  Elliot,  a Carey,  and  a Vanderkemp, 
which  the  God  of  heaven  has  owned,  and  w’hich  the 
universal  Church  have  applauded  ? But  such  is  not 
ilie  w ill  of  God.  It  is  his  settled  purpose,  as  plainly 
expressed  in  his  predictions,  that  an  entrance  should 
be  made  on  preaching  the  Gospel  “ to  every  nation, 
and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people,”  before  the 
fall  of  Babylon,  and  therefore  before  the  degenerated 
half  of  the  Christian  world  is  purged  of  its  great 

B 


10 


ilpositacy.  As  was  said  in  respect  to  the  destructiefs 
of  Jerusalem,  “ This  Gospefof  the  kingdom  shall  be 
preached  in  all  the  world,  for  a witness  unto  all  na- 
tions, and  then  shall  the  end  come* so  before  the 
destruction  of  the  Romish  church,  the  angel  must 
carry  the  Gospel  “ to  every  nation,  and  kindred, 
and  tongue,  and  people.”  And  to  this  agrees  the 
prediction,  that  “ many  shall  run  to  and  fro  and 
knowledge  shall  be  increased”  just  before  the  close 
of  the  1260  years,  as  also  the  notice  taken  of  those 
who  in  such  a day  shall  “ turn  many  to  righteous- 
nesst.” 

Secondly,  if  you  wish  to  see  the  Gospel  spread 
through  the  world,  is  it  wise  to  confine  your  labours 
to  a few  favoured  spots  until  those  spots  can  receive 
no  more  ? How  would  you  do  in  other  matters  ? If 
you  wished  to  burn  over  an  extensive  plain,  would 
you  place  all  your  fire  in  a single  spot,  or  would  you 
kindle  it  in  different  places  and  leave  it  to  run  from 
many  centres  ? If  you  wished  to  propagate  some 
rare  seed  through  a country,  would  you  cast  it  all 
into  a single  field,  or  would  you  scatter  it  in  small 
parcels  through  the  land  ? Let  the  Gospel  as  soon 
as  possible  be  planted  at  proper  distances  through 
the  earth,  and  spread  from  a thousand  centres  until 
the  circles  meet. 

Thirdly,  it  is  a maxim  founded  on  the  nature  of 
man,  on  the  principles  of  divine  government,  and  on 
actual  experience,  that  the  more  you  do  for  the  hea- 
then the  more  will  be  done  at  home.  When  the 
))ublic  arc  roused  by  these  noble  examples,  or  warm- 


* Matt.  24.  14. 


t Dan.  12. 


11 


ed  in  these  animating  efforts,  they  will  more  naturally 
ihink  of  the  destitute  among  themselves.  When 
once  their  seltish  stupor  is  broken,  every  object 
within  their  reach  will  feel  the  benign  eflect.  You 
may  calculate  the  same  from  the  blessing  of  God. 
While  you  obediently  care  for  other  nations,  he  will 
care  for  yours  and  you.  While  you  thus  seem  to 
pass  by  your  own  people  for  the  Redeemer’s  sake, 
your  own  people  shall  be  saved.  “ Whosoever  will 
save  his  life  shall  lose  it,  and  whosoever  will  lose  his 
life  for  my  sake  shall  find  it.”  “ He  that  watereth 
shall  be  watered  also  himself.”  All  this  is  fully  sup- 
ported by  experience.  When  the  Indian  mission 
and  that  to  the  south  seas  were  attempted  in  England 
more  than  twenty  years  ago,  a loud  cry  was  made 
that  the  charity  of  the  country  was  exhausted  upon 
strangers,  w hile  the  pagans  at  home  were  neglected. 
But  what  has  been  the  result.^  The  friends  of  mis- 
sions have  had  an  opportunity  to  make  the  triumphant 
appeal,  that  since  they  entered  on  that  generous 
course,  more  has  been  done  for  the  destitute  at  home 
than  had  been^ attempted  for  centuries  before.  By 
domestic  missions,  by  Bible  and  tract  societies,  and 
Smiday  schools,  an  amount  of  instruction  has  been 
carried  to  the  poor,  altogether  w ithout  a parallel  in 
that  country.  If  therefore  my  principal  object  was 
to  promote  domestic  missions  and  the  holiness  of  the 
churches,  I w'ould  urge  you  to  send  the  Gospel  to  the 
heathen.  ' 

But  there  is  another  view  to  be  taken  of  this  sub- 
ject. I wish  to  see  a spirit  of  foreign  missions  prevail 
because  this  will  indicate  a higher  pulse  of  religion 
in  the  countrv.  W'ith  very  little  sanctification  we 


12 


may  pursue  the  ordinary  round  of  duties  at  home. 
A thousand  considerations  of  a private  and  personal 
nature  may  impel  us  to  build  up  the  Church  among 
our  own  people.  Every  head  of  a sect  may  wish  to 
see  his  own  kingdom  extended  by  domestic  missions. 
Leading  men  of  every  denomination  may  be  zealous 
to  enlarge  their  own  Church.  But  to  go  beyond  all 
these  considerations,  and  labour  for  an  interest 
which  can  bring  nothing  to  ourselves ; to  feel  enough 
/ for  ma«,  stript  of  every  extrinsic  circumstance,  to  find 
him  out  in  distant  regions,  and  to  extend  to  him  the 
most  exalted  of  all  charities ; this  requires  something 
more.  O for  that  spirit  of  holy  love  and  self-denial 
which  will  bring  us  to  feel  and  act  efficiently  for  more 
than  two  thirds  of  the  human  race  never  baptised  by 
the  Christian  name.  Where  churches  as  rich  and 
numerous  as  ours,  and  with  such  animating  examples 
before  them,  cannot  rise  up  in  earnest  to  this  sublime 
charity,  it  shows  that  we  possess  but  Httle  of  the 
spirit  of  our  Master.  Wc  may  display  an  imposing 
form,  we  may  be  loud  and  ardent  in  words,  we  may 
be  stubborn  wranglers  for  orthodoxy;  but  the  flame 
of  that  charity  which  “ seeketh  not  her  own,”  burns 
dimly  in  our  breasts.  God  Almighty  give  our  church- 
es more  religion,  more  holiness,  more  of  the  temper 
of  heaven;  and  the  cries  oJ  the  heathen  will  not  be 
heard  in  vain.  O for  an  effusion  to  baptise  us  and 
drench  us  in  the  spirit  that  wept  and  bled  for  poor 
pagan  wanderers  from  God.  This,  and  nothing  but 
this  is  religion,  if  Christ  is  our  example.  Away  w ith 
your  smooth  and  frigid  forms  without  a heart:  those 
garnished  corpses  pollute  the  air.  Away  with  the 
hand  stretched  out  in  prayer,  and  still  grasping  the 


13 


^old  with  the  convulsive  spasm  of  death.  The 
earth  has  groaned  long  enough  under  a religion, 
which,  with  long  creeds  and  many  devotions,  has 
said,  “ Be  ye  warmed  and  filled.”  Pure  religion 
and  undefiled  before  God  and  the  Father  is  this^  to 
visit  the  fatherless  and  widows  in  their  affliction, 
and  to  keep  himself  unspotted  from  the  w orld.” 

We  want  also  a holier  race  of  men  raised  up  to 
bear  the  vessels  of  the  Lord  : men  w ho,  no  longer 
intent  on  splendid  or  easy  livings  at  home,  shall  burn 
with  desire  to  lay  down  their  lives  for  Christ  in  hea- 
then lands.  For  this  purpose  we  need  a more 
powerful  action  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  our  youth. 
To  devote  themselves  to  the  ministry  at  home,  re- 
quires but  little  self-denial,  and  often  none  at  all, 
yea  is  the  highest  gratification  of  their  natural  feel- 
ings. Nor  is  it  much  more  to  spend  a few  months  in 
itinerating  in  the  new  settlements.  But  to  tear 
themselves  from  the  friends  and  scenes  of  their  youth, 
to  consume  their  lives  in  a foreign  w ilderness,  bereft 
of  every  comfort  but  the  pleasure  of  doing  good,  with 
no  motive  but  the  love  of  Christ,  with  no  reward  in 
view  but  the  smiles  of  his  favour;  this  requires  the 
spirit  of  a Brainard  and  a Swartz.  Where  is  that 
generation  of  young  men  who  will  show  this  exalted 
love  to  their  Redeemer  ? How  long  shall  that  divine 
effusion  be  delayed  which  is  necessary  to  produce 
them  ? Every  Christian  ought  to  be  on  his  knees  for 
a blessing  so  much  needed.  While  this  spirit  of 
heroic  fortitude  and  heavenly  charity  is  extending 
among  the  youth  of  other  denominations  in  Europe 
•and  America,  where  are  the  sons  of  these  three 
Churches  ? Are  they  to  be  the  last  in  the  godlike 


u 


career  ? O for  an  influence  from  the'  highest  hea- 
vens to  reach  our  theological  seminaries,  our  fields 
and  our  workshops,  to  form  a generation  to  deeds  of 
glory  which  shall  be  written  in  the  annals  of  heaven, 
and  rehearsed  in  ages  now  sunk  in  a distant  eterni- 
ty. Where  are  the  serious  youth  wdio  tremble  at  the 
treachery  of  their  own  hearts?  Would  they  escape 
with  the  greatest  certainty  the  perdition  of  seeking 
“their  own”  and  “not  the  things  which  are  Jesus 
Christ’s”?  Would  they  place  the  sincerity  of  their 
lovc^at  the  furthest  remove  from  doubt?  Let  them 
forego  the  ease  which  nature  covets,  and  prove  that 
the  spirit  of  a Paul  still  exists  in  the  Church. 

But  you  say,  so  many  are  employed  that  there  is 
no  need  of  us.  Would  to  God  that  this  was  true ; 
but  the  reverse  is  the  heart-breaking  reality.  After 
all  that  has  been  done,  there  are  perhaps  about  mis- 
sionaries enough  in  the  world,  reckoning  all  of  eve- 
ry name  who  need  their  aid,  to  furnish  one  dr  two,  or 
at  most  three,  to  a population  equal  to  that  of  the 
United  States.  There  is  work  enough  to  exhaust  all 
the  disposable  energies  and  resources  of  Christen- 
dom. Immense  will  be  the  labour  and  expense  of 
civilizing  and  christianizing,  (for  they  must  go  toge- 
ther,) only  the  savages  on  our  borders ; to  teach  eve- 
ry man,  woman,  and  child  the  alphabet;  to  bring 
them  forw  ard  to  read  the  Scriptures  ; to  initiate  them 
in  the  arts;  to  lay  open  to  their  understanding  the 
whole  system  of  revealed  truth ; to  impress  it  on 
their  conscience  and  heart;  to  repeat  this  process 
with  every  person  in  the  tribe,  with  every  Indian  in 
tlie  United  States.  How  immense  the  task.  What 


15 


lui  army  of  missionaries  must  go  forth.  How  ample 
a treasury  will  be  necessary  to  support  them.  How 
far  beyond  calculation  then  the  labour  and  expense 
of  diffusing  the  light  of  religion  and  science  among 
all  the  pagans  of  North  and  South  America,  through 
the  islands  of  the  sea,  through  the  numerous  tribes  of 
Africa,  through  the  great  world  of  Asia,  and  among 
the  dispersed  of  Israel.  By  whom  shall  this  be  done 
but  by  the  Christian  world  ? But  three  quarters  of 
the  Christian  world,  instead  of  helping,  really  need 
our  aid.  This  makes  the  disproportion  still  greater 
between  the  work  to  be  done  and  the  hands  to  be 
employed.  Let  us  see  how  the  account  stands. 

475  millions  of  pagans, 

73  millions  of  Mahometans, 

3 millions,  at  least,  of  Jews, 

100  millions  of  Roman  Catholics ; 
and  if  we  reckon  64  mil.  of  other  benighted  Christians, 

it  will  make  715  millions  who  need  missionary  aid; 
leaving  but  50  millions 

to  complete  the  765  millions  supposed  to  be  on  the 
earth. 

Of  those  fifty  millions,  w e cannot  count  on  more 
than  ten  who  are  likely  to  be  engaged  in  this  work. 
Ten  millions  to  act,  and  above  seven  hundred  mil- 
lions to  be  acted  upon ! More  than  seventy  to  a 
man ! 

It  may  fairly  be  calculated  that  one  third  of  the 
efficiency  of  the  Church  is  found  in  the  United  States. 
This  would  cast  upon  the  United  States  near  tw'^o 


16 


hundred  and  forty  millions  of  supplicants  lor  the 
most  interesting  of  all  charities.  If  then,  one  third  of 
the  real  Church  in  the  United  States  belongs  to  our 
three  denominations,  it  would  lay  upon  our  hands 
about  eighty  millions.  It  was  no  exaggeration  there- 
fore when  the  board  in  their  circular  Address  de- 
clared : “ If  the  thirty  millions  on  our  own  continent 
who  are  sunk  in  pagan  or  papal  darkness,  were  as- 
signed to  our  three  denominations,  it  would  not  be 
one  half,  probably  not  one  quarter,  of  what  w^ould  fall 
to  our  lot  in  a fair  'division  of  the  world  among  the 
sound  and  active  parts  of  the  Protestant  Church.” 

Nothing  like  precision  is  pretended  in  an  estima- 
tion of  this  sort;  but  we  can  get  near  enough  the 
truth  to  show'  you  at  once  the  immense  field  w hich 
lies  before  you,  and  which  you  are  imperiously  called 
upon  to  occupy  as  fast  as  you  can.  As  fast  as  you 
can,  in  mercy  stop  that  discharge  of  souls  into  the 
burning  pit.  If  it  will  not  break  your  heart,  I w ill 
present  another  calculation.  Of  those  seven  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  millions  who  need  missionary  aid, 
suppose  that  one  half  die  in  infancy,  and  the  other 
half  attain  on  an  average  to  the  age  of  thirty-five. 
Then  there  die  of  those  who  have  reached  the  year? 
of  discretion,  more  than  ten  millions  a year,  about 
twenty-eight  thousand  a day,  little  less  than  twelve 
hundred  an  hour,  and  near  twenty  a minute.  While 
I am  pleading  their  cause  they  are  launching  forth. 
How'  many  arc  this  moment  on  their  way.  In  the 
name  of  mercy,  ought  any  more  time  to  be  lost  ? 

With  such  a call  for  instantaneous  and  mighty  ex- 
ertion, shall  the  numerous  and  wealthy  churches  in 


17 


our  connexion  think  that  they  have  notlnngto  do  for 
the  lieatlien?  Retiring  into  themselves,  and  now 
and  then  sending  a messenger  to  the  new  settlements, 
shall  they  leave  the  vast  pagan  w orld  to  others  ? 
No,  my  brethren,  we  have  a mighty  debt  to  discharge 
which  is  not  thus  to  be  put  off'  God  has  laid  out  a 
w’ork  for  us  of  far  greater  extent.  His  w ord,  Iiis  pro- 
vidence, the  voice  of  heaven  and  earth,  summon  us 
to  go  forth,  with  others  who  have  started  before  us, 
to  that  w’ide  spread  pagan  w aste  which  none  but  the 
true  Church  can  occupy.  This  is  an  obligation 
which  we  cannot  put  off  upon  others.  It  presses  up- 
on us  collectively  and  individually.  Every  man  in 
Christendom  ought  to  hold  himself  under  bonds  to 
God  and  the  souls  of  men  to  do  his  lull  proportion. 
And  if  others  will  not  do  their  part,  we  must  do  more 
than  our  proportion.  Our  property,  our  time,  our  in- 
fluence, stand  bound  to  discharge  this  debt.  And 
with  all  hese  claims  upon  us,  shall  we  stand  still  and 
content  ourselves  with  the  thought  that  in  some 
other  time  and  way  God  w ill  employ  w orthier  hands 
to  do  his  work  Worthier  hands  he  may  employ, 
but  who  shall  discharge  our  debt  who  shall  an- 
swer for  our  neglects.^  Can  others  be  substituted 
here  ? 

A part  of  this  honour  is  fairly  tendered  to  us  by 
the  present  dispensations  of  divine  providence,  and 
if  w e decline  the  glory  it  will  certainly  be  seized  by 
others.  If  we  refuse  to  put  our  hands  to  the  work,  it 
will  be  done  by  contemporaries  before  our  eyes. 
The  heathen  shall  be  evangelized,  and  the  angel  has 
already  begun  his  flight.  Rise  earth,  rise  hell,  they 
cannot  stop  his  progress.  Even  now'  the  work  is 

C 


18 


going  on  by  a thousand  hands,  and  while  we  are  dis- 
puting whether  to  attempt  it,  it  will  be  done.  Shall 
we  take  a part  in  the  glorious  enterprise,  or  stand 
by  and  see  it  accomplished  by  others  ? This  is  now 
the  only  question. 

We  will  not  stand  by.  We  will  claim  the  honour 
of  aiding  to  recover  the  wandering  nations  to  God. 
We  will  help  to  bring  the  heathen  to  Christ  for  an 
inheritance,  and  then  will  follow  in  his  triumphant 
train  and  shout  the  praises  of  his  victory.  After  all 
the  sacrifices  which  he  has  made  in  our  world,  we 
wall  not  think  it  much  to  help  him  to  his  reward.  We 
w ill  remember  the  Sutfererof  Gethsemane  whenever 
we  think  of  the  heathen.  And  since  wc  cannot  re- 
munerate him,  wc  will  remember  to  have  heard  him 
say,  “Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least 
of  these, — ye  have  done  it  unto  me.”  No  sacrifice 
which  w'e  can  make  shall  be  deemed  too  great  for 
him  w ho  died  for  the  poor  pagans  and  for  us.  It 
shall  be  the  highest  joy  of  our  heart  to  gather  the 
nations  (o  him  and  crow  n him  Lord  of  all. 

But  our  first  attention,  we  all  agree,  ought  to  be  di- 
rected to  our  own  continent.  Upon  every  principle 
of  rc.ason  and  religion,  the  thirty  millions  w'ho  are 
perishing  in  darkness  here,  ought  to  be  considered 
as  specially  committed  to  the  compassions  of  the 
American  Church. 

As  soon  as  a door  is  opened  for  operations  in  South 
America,  that  w ill  be  afield  which  we  shall  be  bound 
to  occupy,  and  it  w ill  richly  reward  our  toil.  To  the 
Christian  and  philanthropist,  that  is  at  present  one  of 
the  most  interesting  spots  beneath  the  sun;  where 
mighty  nations  are  strugglingiutocxistence,where  man 


19 


is  rlsinor  in  his  miglit  to  burst  the  chains  of  tlie  most 
unrighteous  and  degrading  oppression, and  stretching 
after  the  majesty  and  happiness  of  freedom.  In  the 
name  of  humanity  and  religion,  let  them  succeed. 
They  will  succeed,  and  in  their  course  the  fetters  will 
drop  from  their  mind.  They  will  soon  see  that  there 
is  no  freedom  witliout  liberty  of  conscience.  And 
when  toleration  and  free  inquiry  are  introduced,  you 
may  pour  in  your  instructions  until  the  capacity  is 
full.  That  will  be  a most  inviting  field  for  missions ; 
richer  in  its  soil  than  in  the  mines  which  sleep  be- 
neath it,  possessing  all  the  climates  from  Brazil  to 
Hudsbn’s  Bay,  intersected  by  the  largest  rivers  on 
the  globe,  laved  by  two  oceans,  lying  on  the  great 
highway  of  nations,  connected  w ith  all  the  world, 
and  destined  to  support  powerful  and  prosperous 
empires.  Let  us  stand  ready  to  enter  as  soon  as  a 
door  is  opened. 

One  door  is  already  opened  on  our  own  continent. 
There  never  was  so  favourable  a time  to  attempt  the 
conversion  of  the  Indians.  The  day  of  their  deliver- 
ance really  seems  to  have  come.  The  government 
of  the  United  States,  directed  by  an  enlightened  po- 
licy, no  less  than  by  the  most  obvious  principles  of 
justice  and  humanity,  stand  ready  to  erect  houses 
for  the  missions,  to  furnish  the  necessary  implements 
of  husbandry,  and  to  support  the  attempt  with  the 
whole  weight  of  their  influence.  The  Indians  them- 
selves are  at  last  convinced  that  thev  must  be  brought 

w O 

to  till  the  soil  or  be  exterminated,  and  have  become 
willing  to  receive  the  learning  and  arts  of  white  men. 
A new  system,  of  far  greater  promise,  has  recently 
been  introduced,  beginning  with  the  children,  and 


20 


combining  in  their  education,  instruction  In  letters 
and  the  useful  arts,  with  anjnitiation  into  the  princi- 
ples of  religion.  This  system  has  already  been 
visibly  owned  by  the  Holy  Gliost,  and  some  of  the 
children  of  the  dcsdrt  have  been  hopefully  turned  to 
the  Lord.  There  is  every  encouragement  to  go 
forward. 

A simultaneous  conviction  seems  to  have  taken 
possession  of  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
some  of  the  state  governments,  and  many  of  the 
churches,  that  the  time  has  come  to  make  one  great 
effort  to  bring  the  Indians  to  a participation  of  all 
the  blessings  which  we  enjoy.  One  fact  has  broken 
upon  them  all,  that  this  work  must  be  done  soon  or  it 
\vhn  be  for  ever  too  late.  We  have  got  away  their 
lands  and  spoiled  their  hunting  grounds,  and  they 
must  be  speedily  brought  to  till  the  soil  or  perish. 
This  however  is  not  the  fault  of  the  white  people. 

It  was  never  the  intention  of  Him  who  gave  the  earth 
to  the  children  of  men,  that  a whole  continent  should 
be  perpetually  held  by  a few  scattered  hunters,  but 
that  a denser  population  should  draw  support  from 
its  soil.  We  had  a right  therefore  to  enter  upon 
this  uncultivated  wilderness,  with  due  respect  to  the 
previous  claims  of  its  inhabitants.  We  had  a right 
• to  enter  it  by  purchase,  and  to  bring  it  into  a state  “ 
to  support  hundreds  of  millions  of  the  worshippers 
of  God.  Hut  in  mercy  to  the  poor  hunter,  whose 
deer  have  fled  or  fallen,  we  ought  to  take  him  to 
our  fields  and  tench  him  to  cultivate  the  ground. 

I’his,  I say,  must  be  done  soon  or  it  will  be  forever 
too  late.  Tlie  poor  hunter  w ill  have  sunk  into  the 
grave  of  his  fathers,  and  left  the  chacc  and  the  field 


21 


to  you.  The  tide  of  population  is  setting  so  rapidly 
to  the  west,  (wave  after  wave  sweeping  further  and 
further  upon  the  sliore,)  that  in  a few  short  years 
there  will  not  he  a hunting  ground  left  this  side  of 
the  Pacific.  Calculation  on  this  subject  will  sur- 
prise you,  while  it  discloses  the  sublime  prospects 
of  this  rising  empire.  For  GO  years  before  the  last 
census,  the  population  of  the  United  States,  (exclu- 
sive of  purchased  territories,)  doubled  once  in  twenty- 
two  years  and  a half.  Let  it  continue  to  increase  in 
the  same  ratio  for  118  years  longer,  and  it  will 
amount  to  926  millions,  ICO  millions  more  than  are 
now  supposed  to  be  on  the  globe.  This  result  is 
obtained,  as  any  one  may  see,  by  only  doubling  the 
amount  of  the  last  census  seven  times.  I well  know 
that  the  ratio  of  increase  must  be  diminished  w hen- 
ever  the  population  becomes  so  crowded  as  to  ren- 
der the  air  less  pure  or  the  means  of  support  less 
easy.  But  what  aliould  lessen  if  while  an  extensive  wil- 
derness remains  to  receive  the  surplus  of  our  popula- 
tion, does  not  appear.  What  therefore  should  lessen 
it  until  all  the  hunting  grounds  of  the  Indian  are  de- 
stroyed, we  are  unable  to  see. ' And  if  the  same  ratio 
of  increase  is  to  continue  until  the  wilderness  is 
generally  reduced,  the  hunting  grounds  will  all  be 
taken  up  before  our  children  leave  the  stage.  Sixty 
years,  in  this  proportion,  would  add  50  millions  to 
our  present  population,  and  swell  our  numbers  to 
60  millions.  And  with  the  spirit  of  emigration  and 
enterprise  which  characterizes  our  people,  60  mil- 
lions would  probably  extend  the  border  of  cultiva- 
tion to  the  Pacific.  Six  times  our  present  number 
could  scarcely  fail  to  do  this.  Should  nothing  un- 


22 


foreseen  check  our  progress,  our  grand  children  \?lll 
make  grave  yards  on  the  shores  of  the  western  ocean. 
The  very  generation  therefore  seems  to  have  come 
in  which  the  Indians  must  be  brought  to  cultivate  the 
soil  or  be  exterminated. 

Had  we  nothing  in  view  but  the  temporal  relief  of 
the  heathen,  this  would  be  a mighty  object.  Accus- 
tomed as  we  arc  to  the  enjoyments  of  civilized  life, 
and  surrounded  with  scenes  of  prosperity  as  far  as 
the  eye  can  reach,  we  cannot  realize  the  wretched 
state  of  the  savage, — destitute  of  the  useful  arts,  even 
of  that  which  relieves  the  tortures  of  disease,  desti- 
tute of  every  thing  w hicli  bears  tlie  name  of  conve- 
nience, destitute  of  the  social  oyder  and  security 
which  are  bottomed  on  w holesome  laws,  of  the  hal- 
lowed delights  of  domestic  life,  of  the  enjoyments  of 
refined  intercourse  and  friendship,  of  the  lights  of 
science  ; depending  for  subsistence  on  the  uncertain 
issues  of  the  chace,  often  half  famished,  exposed  to 
wintry  storms,  to  lawless  violence,  to  ferocious  as- 
saults, to  pilfering  cupidity ; stowed  in  a wretched 
hovel,  immured  in  smoke,  unsheltered  from  the  rain, 
bedded  in  filth;  the  slave  of  the  most  polluting  and 
furious  passions,  agitated  by  the  phantoms  of  a 
gloomy  superstition,  ignorant  of  God,  of  all  the  solace 
of  the  Christian  hope,  and  perhaps  besmearing  the 
altars  of  devils  with  human  blood.  What  a vast 
amount  of  human  happiness  would  be  produced, 
even  in  the  present  life,  by  only  introducing  into  a 
single  tribe  the  benign  influence  of  Christianity  and 
civilization,  for  the  benefit  of  them,  and  their  chil- 
dren, and  their  children’s  children  to  the  latest  pos- 
terity. 


But  when  wo  conteniplate  those  heathen  as  im- 
mortal, the  subject  swells  into  a magnitude  beyond 
the  ranges  ol  imagination.  Every  one  ol  them  will 
be  an  angel  or  a devil  millions  of  ages  alter  the  fune- 
ral of  this  world.  Each  of  them  will  experience 
happiness  more  than  all  heaven  have  yet  enjoyed, 
or  misery  more  than  all  hell  have  yet  endured.  To 
think  of  the  perdition  of  one  pagan  soul,  is  enough  to 
awaken  the  deepest  sympathy  of  the  whole  human 
race.  But  to  contemplate  the  ruin  of  the  hundreds 
of  millions  now  on  the  earth,  whose  numbers  are  to 
be  renewed  once  in  twenty  or  thirty  years,  what  heart 
can  fail  to  dissolve  in  grief  and  vehemently  to  cry 
out  for  help  to  God  and  inan.*^  The  f:\shion  of  this 
world  is  passing  away,  the  sign  of  the  J^on  of  man 
will  appear  in  heaven,  and  you  and  all  the  heathen 
nations  will  be  before  his  bar.  Then,  I ask  you 
whether  it  will  not  appear  of  more  importance  to 
have  converted  a single  pagan,  than  to  have  amassed 
the  treasures  of  the  Indies.  I behold  one  of  those 
heathen  brought  along  in  chains  to  receive  his  doom, 
and  looking  down  to  an  eternal  lake  of  fire,  “ Ah  me !” 
says  he,  “ aixl  am  I born  to  this.^”  lie  casts  an  eye 
of  anguish  on  those  who  once  composed  the  Ameri- 
can Church,  and  raises  his  piercing  lamentations : 
“ How  could  you  see  me  perish  ? Why  did  you  not 
sell  your  estates  to  send  the  Gospel  to  me.^  Ah! 
you  never  felt  the  pains  of  damnation.”  Indeed,  my 
brethren,  w'hen  w e contemplate  that  scene,  we  know 
not  where  to  stop.  When  w e have  given  a few  hun- 
dred dollars,  w e look  again  over  the  immense  pagan 
waste,  and  then  to  the'judgment,  and  ask.  Why  should 
I not  give  as  many  more  ? 


24 


Whatever  we  do  in  this  business  will  multiply  it- 
self. If  we  can  prevail  to  convert  a single  pagan,  he 
may  be  the  means  of  converting  many  more,  and  they 
a still  greater  number : and  thus  the  wave,  set  in 
motion  by  a single  impulse,  and  w idening  on  every 
side,  may  extend  to  the  distant  shore.  In  this  view, 
a small  donation  of  a few  dollars,  may  ultimately 
produce  an  amount  of  happiness  which  outstrips  the 
calculation  of  numbers.  To  what  more  important 
purpose  then  could  the  wealth  of  the  rich  be  ap- 
plied.^ Might  not  the  treasures  of  kings  find  here  a 
more  benevolent  appropriation,  than  in  supporting 
w^ars  to  fill  the  world  with  widow's  and  orphans.^  If 
an  angel  from  heaven  were  to  judge,  would  he  not 
decide  that  the  whole  wealth  of  Christendom  ought 
\ to  be  given,  to  the  last  mite  that  is  needed  ? But  all 
is  not  needed.  The  superfluous  wealth  of  this  single 
city,  is  enough  to  send  the  Gospel  through  a very 
considerable  part  of  the  pagan  W'orld. 

We  have  slept  too  long  over  this  immensely  im- 
portant subject.  The  millions  w'ho  are  gone  cannot 
be  redeemed  : those  who  are  now  on  their  w ay  can- 
not be  stopt:  the  many  who  must  die  before  we  can 
reach  the  fields  of  the  missions,  must  die  as  they  are, 
because  w'e  delayed  so  long.  But  by  the  bow  els  of 
Christ  let  no  more  time  be  lost. 

Under  the  impression  of  these  awful  and  affecting 
thoughts,  the  board  of  the  United  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  have  entered  in  earnest  on  this  long  neglect- 
ed work,  and  by  all  the  tones  which  mercy  can  fur- 
nish, they  call  upon  the  churches  to  join  them.  They 
would  fain  extend  an  arm  as  far  as  human  misery  is 
found.  In  their  ultimate  operations  they  hope  to 


26 


penetrate  the  darkness  of  the  eastern  world.  But 
their  first  cares  centre  at  home.  * They  have  their 
eye  anxiously  fixed  on  South  America,  w aiting  lor  the 
moment  when  God  shall  open  the  door.  In  the  mean 
time  they  have  resolved  to  make  a solemn  and  vigo- 
rous attempt  upon  the  Indians  within  our  own  bor- 
ders. As  a preparatory  step  they  have  lately  sent 
out  two  young  men  to  explore  the  country  west  ol’the 
Mississippi,  to  examine  the  state  and  dispositions  ol 
the  dillerent  tribes,  and  to  select  the  most  suitable 
spot  lor  the  commencejiient  ol'our  operations.  Upon 
their  return  it  is  expected  that  a number  more  will 
join  them  and  enter  immediately  on  their  work. 
These  devoted  youth  are  looking  to  God  to  raise  up 
pious  farmers  and  mechanics,  to  form  with  them  a 
little  church  and  colony,  and  to  go  out  with  them 
tbilow  ed  by  the  blessing  and  prayers  of  all  our  Israel. 
Those  little  colonies  and  churches  they  expect  to 
see  multiplied.  They  have  nothing  less  in  their 
hopes  than  to  march  from  tribe  to  tribe,  as  fast  as 
they  can  gain  a footing  in  each,  until  they  unfurl  the 
banner  of  the  cross  on  the  top  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, and  descend  like  the  dew'  of  Hermon  upon  the 
valleys  w hich  slope  to  the  w estern  shore. 

This  is  an  enterprise  which  solicits  your  most  ear- 
nest prayers.  We  may  project,  but  w e know^  who  it 
is  that  must  succeed  our  endeavours.  We  hope  you 
will  bear  our  dear  youth  and  the  poor  w anderer  of 
the  desert  upon  your  hearts  whenever  you  carry 
your  ow  n children  to  a mercy  seat.  We  stand  here 
also  to  ask  for  alms.  We  come  and  kneel  at  your 
door  for  the  poor  Indian,  who  has  no  lands,  no  home, 
no  Bible,  and  no  God.  If  his  miseries  could  end  at 


r\ 


26 


death,  we  should  pity  him  less ; but  then  they  must 
begin.  You  never  felt  his  sorrows,  and  may  you 
never  feel  them.  May  you  long  nourish  and  enjoy 
your  children  on  lands  which  once  were  his.  May 
your  babes  nevcfr  cry  for  bread  and  you  have  none 
to  give  them.  But  while  you  teach  them  the  name  of 
Christ,  and  bring  them  to  a covenant  God,  and  from 
the  uplifted  eye  of  prayer  drop  upon  their  cheek  the 
parental  tear ; remember  that  Indian  children  have 
none  to  teach  them  the  name  of  Christ,  none  to  bring 
them  to  a covenant  God,  none  to  distil  upon  them 
the  dews  of  prayer.  If  mercy  bids  missionaries  go 
among  them,  they  must  be  supported.  They  cannot 
support  themselves,  and  Indians  are  too  poor.  We 
come  and  lay  the  affecting  case  before  you.  We 
have  heard  of  the  wealth  and  liberality  of  this  me- 
tropolis. We  have  heard  that  pity  dwells  in  York. 
We  doubt  not  then  that  we  shall  find  it  in  the  house 
of  God.  W e shall  surely  meet  it  so  near  the  mercy 
seat.  We  can  do  nothing  without  you.  But  with 
you  and  God’s  blessing  we  can  do  all  things.  We 
can  spread  the  throb  of  joy  through  the  wilderness. 
We  can  carry  consolation  to  the  heart  that  has  long 
been  desolate  and  sad.  We  can  light  the  Indian’s 
eye  with  the  dawn  of  heaven.  We  can  snatch  him 
from  eternal  burnings  and  lift  him  to  the  throne  of 
God.  I think  I see  you  at  this  suggestion  bringing 
your  possessions  and  laying  them  at  the  apostles’ 
feet.  No,  keep  them  for  other  uses  ; we  only  ask  a 
part.  A part  we  will  accept,  and  bless  God  that  he 
made  you  rich,  and  pray  him  to  give  you  a hundred 
fold  into  your  bosom.  We  wish  that  hands  like  these 
might  grasp  the  mines  of  Potosi.  We  believe  they 


27 


will  do  more : they  will  embrace  a God : they  will 
take  hold  of  the  inheritance  of  heaven.  “ He  that 
hath  pity  on  the  poor  lendeth  unto  the  Lord,  and 
that  which  he  hath  given  will  he  pay  him  again.” 
When  nothing  shall  remain  to  you  on  earth  but  your 
charity  and  your  prayers,  the  bread  which  you  scat- 
tered on  many  waters  shall  return  to  you  again. 
When  all  the  drugs  which  wealth  can  purchase  have 
lost  their  power,  this  shall  refresh  your  departing 
spirit.  When  all  that  you  laboured  for  on  earth 
forsakes  you,  this  * shall  become  treasures  laid  up 
in  heaven.  There  may  you  meet  some  Indian  soul 
whom  your  charity  saved.  And  when  he  shall  lead 
forward  his  wife  and  children,  and  say.  These  also 
by  your  means  have  reached  this  happy  home,  I 
think  you  will  value  it  more  than  all  the  wealth  you 
left  to  rot  on  earth.  And  when  you  shall  look  around 
and  see  ten  thousand  hands  which  once  held  the 
tomahawk,  now  clasping  the  golden  harp, — but  I 
have  done.  May  God  eternally  reward  you  for  what 
you  have  conceived  in  your  heart  to  do  for  poor 
Indians.  Amen. 


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